This new film is really powerful. It is being released by Curzon in British cinemas. It is also on in some Vue cinemas.

Anyone interested in what is going on in Gaza will find it very illuminating.  It deals with the 1936 General strike, and then revolt by Palestinians, in response to the British state helping the Zionists, both develop their industries and drive Palestinian workers out. 

It started with workers on the docks then spread into the villages. Zionist settlements were being given Palestinian land which was then physically defended by the British army.  

The method used by the director is concentrating on one Palestinian village and on one of the villagers  living in Jerusalem,  so events are shown there.  

A key British character is Orde Wingate who went on to organise Zionist militias, he is a classical British colonial brute, thinking nothing of shooting people in cold blood or blowing up populated houses and busloads of people. 

This is an important film, not just dealing with Balfour and his notorious Declaration in 1917 but how the British went on to build up the Zionist operation. 

PALESTINE 36 | Official UK Trailer – In Cinemas 31 October

The British state forces were at the core of the formation of Israel.  

This was the mass uprising of the Palestinians, and it was its defeat that was crucial to the formation of Israel, Palestinian leaders had to be killed or deported. All the time, on the surface, Britain offered to negotiate, but planned the crushing of the national movement. 

Palestinian supporters, should also read about this period, to see the British colonial roots of the present genocide, Israel is continuing Wingate’s traditions.